Cadillac’s bet on Colton Herta is losing strength earlier than expected. The American’s difficult season in Formula 2 has reduced his chances of earning the points needed for the Formula 1 super license, and it may alter the manufacturer’s plans for the future.
Read more F1: Racing Bulls uses Verstappen as an example for young people
This move of Herta from IndyCar to F2 in 2026 was seen as the path to enable his arrival in Formula 1. Competing for Hitech alongside Ritomo Miyata, the goal was to finish the championship at least in eighth place, a result sufficient to obtain the super license required to race in F1. However, with the category entering the scheduled mid-year break, the driver currently occupies only 16th place in F2, 39 points behind Laurens Van Hoepen, the current eighth-placed driver.
The numbers reflect only part of the difficulties faced by the 26-year-old driver. The adaptation to F2 has been marked by weak performances in qualifying sessions, which repeatedly forced him to start further back and attempt recovery races. Additionally, important opportunities were wasted, such as in Barcelona, where Herta started third in the Sprint and seemed on track for his first podium, but a wheel lock-up on the last lap allowed Nikola Tsolov to overtake. The American finished only fifth, a result he described as ‘unacceptable’.
The situation is also influenced by Hitech’s performance. After finishing the 2025 season in second place among Formula 2 teams, the team has not been able to repeat the same level of competitiveness in 2026 and has struggled to regularly fight for the top positions. Still, Herta is only eight points behind his teammate, Miyata, indicating that the problems cannot be attributed solely to the rookie driver’s adaptation period.
Read more F1: Hockenheim starts talks to return to the calendar
These difficulties may also impact Cadillac’s plans for the driver in Formula 1. According to Spanish Motorsport, the team is monitoring Brazilian Rafael Câmara as a possible alternative for a future seat. Current Formula 3 champion, the Invicta driver is third in F2, has two wins in feature races, three other podiums, and has already surpassed the 40-point mark required to obtain the super license.
Despite the unfavorable scenario, Herta still has the opportunity to react. The F2 season will resume at the Italian GP, and there will be five rounds left, with ten races, until the end of the 2026 championship. This period could be decisive to reduce the gap to eighth place, keep the Formula 1 dream alive, and strengthen his candidacy for a future seat at Cadillac.
Read more F1 today: Rafa Câmara aims for F1 and Verstappen demands Red Bull
